The lights are on
Anita Sarkeesian ran a successful Kickstarter campaign in the face of online discrimination in order to produce a series of videos examining the representation of women in video games. Today, the second part of her series appeared online.
This is the second part of Sarkeesian's Damsel in Distress series where she looks at the trope of female characters in video games consistently appearing in the role of the helpless prisoner. Here's part one.
Sarkeesian and her Kickstarter campaign have both been subject to online harassment from a dedicated group of gamers who question Sarkeesian's expertise. Shortly after the video below appeared online, it was wrongly flagged and blocked for containing inappropriate material. This was a product of Sarkeesian's opponents reporting the video to YouTube. The video did not remain blocked for long, however, as Sarkeesian was able to appeal to YouTube's "bogus terms of service violation takedown," Sarkeesian said on Twitter.
You can check out the video below. The video does contain spoilers for a number of video games. You can see the full list of games in the description of the video.
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This woman is does bend the truth to fit it in to her agenda. Just ignore her and instead maybe think how to learn and respect each other without sacrificing your own personality.
Hey... there have been far worse things that have been funded with Kickstarter that probably didn't go through. It's not a con if people are willing to give her money to do these videos. That's the risk that the investors took for funding her.
Also, there's nothing wrong with people having opinions. Just as some here might feel like this video is useless, others might feel that it is useful. Personally, I'm neutral with her presentation. I think what's most interesting is the reaction from people on the topic.
In the end regardless of the video, I would still like a wider variety of female main characters that are playable (note I said "playable" and not just in the story). I think there's something to be said that the largest franchises don't have very many playable female roles and if there are they fill certain token roles like beautiful modelesque healer/CC vs. butch tough badass crazy (think Starbuck from BSG or Ripley from Alien). Just asking for a little more variety here, which I think isn't too much to ask.
I think a great video to watch with a male perspective on this whole thing is OBJECTIFICATION AND... MEN? (Jimquisition) from The Escapist Magazine. www.youtube.com/watch He has some interesting points about the definition of objectification and the difference between male & female characters in gaming.
I feel that Anita is far too negative in her "analysis." Rather than provide feedback, offer alternatives, or even really inspect what makes these characters work; she just points the finger (if I remember correctly she implies that female characters used to be objects to satisfy male teens). It frustrates me in the somewhat accusing and factual way she presents her opinions. One of her video responses (by KiteTail or something) does a much better job in portraying what these videos should be, well-thought, analytically videos that look at both sides rather than somewhat harsh accusations at beloved characters. That said I love strong female characters in both lead and supporting roles and would love to have more.
My opinion she should donate that money to female game designers/ writers (no limits EX:only feminist)
2) donate that money to increase security in dangerous areas which female assaults occur
But was 150,000 dollars really a necessary payment?
Why is this news?
Too bad she doesn't except any form of criticism or arguments.
FFS even female characters that take the lead role are seen as a bad thing by her so she really can't be taken seriously.